WardInHand

1. WardInHand Patient data and workflow management in hospital wards through wireless devices

2. Summary Introduction to the State of the Art in handheld devices in hospitals M. Anastasiadis Anco S.A

3. The problem • While most large healthcare institutions have automated back-office systems that handle functions such as patient billing and inventory management….. • …..but from the other hand the front end of care delivery has remained dominated by paper printouts with the need to manually re-enter information into clinical systems. • The emergence of desktop systems helped partly address this need having many drawbacks as : • high costs of ownership • Lack of ability of healthcare practitioners to efficiently document care as they moved from patient to patient.

4. The solution of handheld devices • More and more physicians are using handheld electronic devices in their daily routines. These miniature computers are efficient, accurate and put a wealth of information at their fingertips. • Handheld mobile solutions can literally accompany healthcare professionals in the performance of their jobs, whether the professional works in care delivery or in the back office. • Handheld computers make it easier to coordinate physician schedules, make billing more timely and cost-effective, would improve physician communication and give access to internal information sources such as patient records .

5. The integrated solution of Wireless handled devices • The Integrated Solution : • Technology-enabled mobile application that is deployed on handheld devices that are synchronized with back-office servers wirelessly. • Thanks to the Internet, many doctors and nurses have already grown familiar with information technology and are attracted by the promise of anytime, anywhere access. • Furthermore, the installation of wireless LAN infrastructure can be far less expensive and disruptive compared to conventional wired networks. • Handheld, wireless applications can enable doctors and nurses to gain ready access to complete patient treatment histories and gain access to the right information at the right time to prescribe the right course of treatment.

6. Infrastructure required for a handheld wireless solution

7. Typical handheld wireless clinical applications Among the applications that could benefit from mobile deployment are: • Mobile access to latest drug reference databases, gaining access to the most up-to-date prescribed treatments. • Electronic access to patient records, reducing demand for paper records • "ePrescribing," enabling prescriptions to be written and verified against potential drug interactions. • Patient/drug verification, allowing practitioners to scan patient and drug bar codes to help ensure the appropriate medicine is being administered to the correct patient. • Prescription formulary reference, providing the ability to electronically identify the most economical pharmaceuticals for a patient • Electronic billing for in-home healthcare workers. • Delivery applications, including healthcare supply delivery, tracking and billing.

8. Drivers for change Reducing medical errors • Improving patient safety • Reducing costs • Increasing physician revenue • HIPAA compliance • Real time information access • Improving clinician efficiency by providing mobility and flexibility. • Improve the quality of care by providing decision support applications.

9. Potential benefits of handheld wireless clinical applications

10. Patient benefits Handled devices will offer not only money saving but also quality improvement to the citizens (patients): • Improved treatment, since doctors and nurses will have more time to deal with their primary goals. • Reduced stay in a hospital with apparent psychological effects. • Reduced errors in the data file since data not only will be entered at the bedside (no delay – no forgets) but also by the doctor / nurse themselves (no error). As a result, improved treatments are expected. • Improved quality of diagnosis and increased availability of patients medical data, due to the usage of smart card/tokens for examinations storage and retrieval.

11. Critical Issues • Importantly, Digital Hospital initiatives are being driven not by information technology professionals but by physicians and clinicians who see technology as an aid and are demanding better tools. This is not technology for technology’s sake. • These systems must provide increased data transference without disturbing sensitive hospital equipment by ensuringelectromagnetic compatibility that will improve patient safety. • Healthcare happens at all times of the day or night. Healthcare providers need their applications to work whenever they do. And IT professionals in healthcare need 24 x 7 support.

12. Handheld Device Features for Healthcare • Extended battery life • High processing power • High screen resolution • Large screen size • Flexibility & Multimedia options • Voice enabled • Compact • Light Weight

13. Wireless Technology Feature in Healthcare • Security • Range/Coverage • Throughput (bandwidth) • Integrity & Reliability • Interoperability • Interference & Coexistence • Simplicity & Ease of use • Scalability • Battery Life for mobile platforms • Safety

14. Projected use of handheld devices by physicians for transactional purposes

15. Conclusion Hospitals Move Toward Paperless Age Thank you !!!